7 things 'The Wizard of Oz' gave the world

The Wizard of Oz premiered in Hollywood 75 years ago Friday. Like many other classics, the film has become so much more than just a great piece of entertainment. On this big anniversary, we remember everything Oz has given us.

1. The music

Everybody knows Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and for good reason. At some point, we’ve all wanted to follow those happy little bluebirds and see what’s beyond.

2. Judy Garland

Somewhere Over the Rainbow is a classic, but do you think it would have had the same impact if someone else had been singing it? We don’t think so, either. Garland as Dorothy is as iconic a performance as they come.

3. “There’s no place like home”

Not just the music but the script of Oz struck a chord with audiences. “There’s no place like home,” “we’re not in Kansas anymore,” “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain” and “I’ll get you my pretty, and your little dog, too!” are some of the most quotable lines from film history.

4. A genuine fantasy, without special effects

There’s no Andy Serkis wearing a motion-capture suit under that lion. It’s just a man in a costume and make-up, but in this fairy tale, it doesn’t seem to matter.

5. The Wizard’s gifts

Remember when the Wizard tells everyone that they had the brains, the heart and the courage all along? Yeah, he was telling us that too, and we’ve never forgotten.

6. Wicked, The Wiz and plenty of other pop-culture spin-offs

The Wizard of Oz affected pop culture in a way few movies ever have, spawning spin-offs that have developed into their own phenomenons — even if they’re very different (we’re looking at you, HBO prison drama, Oz). Plus there have been plenty of little nods, like the Oz-themed episode of Scrubs or the characters’ appearance in Once Upon a Time.

7. The perfect movie to watch, whenever and for whatever reason

Whether you’re happy, sad or just bored, The Wizard of Oz is the perfect movie to sit down to. It’s a story you love as a child and keep coming back to as an adult. Seventy-five years later, it’s still a monumental force in pop culture. Here’s to the next 75 years.